The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1887-05-20


resents an eastern insurance company which
holds several millions of real estate in Chicago
and vicinity, a connection which alone is
worth to it nearly $4,000 a year. It is said
| of MIR. Lincoln that he is not too proud to
| take his hat and go out to look up tenant or
| examine title, and that as an expert in this
latter direction he has no superiors and but
half dozen equals in this city. Owing to
the destruction of the records in the
great fire this is an important and lucrative
branch Of legal work in Chicago. All large
transactions in real estate are prcfaced by
most thorough legal investigation, and the
lawyers engaged in this work being person.
ally responsible for any losses which may ac-
crue to clients by reason of their lack of "or-
dinary care" the fees are generally fixed ac-
cording to the amount of money involved
or scrutinizing the title to a valuable tract
purchased last summer by Marshall Field,
Chicago's merchant prince, a matter of three
or four days work, Mr.. Lincoln received a
fee said to have been s. 900, and the largest
ever paid for similar service in the west
The income Of the firm of which Mr.. Lincoln
Is member has been estimated at 100000
year. 4**
Robert Lincoln's mother wanted him, her
first born, to WOO fame as a soldier One of
the dreams of this ambitious Kentucky
woman was to see her husband i'm the presi-
dents chair, and another was to send her son
to West Point and make a general OF him.
Robert had no taste for war and almost alb
horred it, but to please his mother early be-
gan a course of preparatory studies including
French. This language he mastered, not in
the usual fashion, but thoroughly, before he
was 18 years Of age, or about the time he
entered Harvard. But for his fathers cleo
tion to congress few years before, it is likely
Mrs. Lincoln would have had her way and
sent the boy to West Point OF course Abra-
ham Lincoln could not use his power as repre-
sentative to secure this much sought prefer
ence for his own son, but later on the ambitious
mother carried her point by having the young
man assigned to the staff of Gen. Grant as
captain and adjutant general, though even
this was opposed by his father, then president
Abraham Lincoln's son found himself on
his fathers death well equipped for the battle
of life He had been carefully educated and
reared, and was robust young man of o.
Nor did he waste any time in getting at his
work Coming directly to Chicago, he here
resumed the study Of law which he had begun
at Harvard, and was admitted to the bar in
1867. An old and wealthy friend Of his
o. ~ L
partner, and practically turned over to him
large business He at once found himself in
charge Of several large estates, and devoted
himself to their care with such industry and
business keenness that his reputation began
growing in the right direction almost from
the outset. At the very beginning of bis
career as a full fledged lawyer an incident oc-
Cured which has seemingly exerted marked
influence upon him from that day to this. A
man named Hume wanted to lease house.
Lincoln, with his usual caution, determined
to learn something Of the applicants charac-
ter, and so sent for Fernando Jones, an old
friend of his fathers, who had been Hume'S
landlord. Jones obeyed the summons, and
walked up two flights Of stairs to the young
lawyer's Office "You have sent for me and
here am. What can do for your said the
caller, who was a prominent and wealthy
citizen. Lincoln had only begun his inquiry
concerning Hume, when Jones interrupted
him:
II like your zeal, Mr.. Lincoln" he
sail, "and think you are starting out
well in thus making inquiries concerning the
character OF your proposed tenants. But
even if YOU are the son of martyred presi-
dent. don't you think that when you want to
see q gentleman, particularly ar elderly
man. on business, in which you are inter-
ested and he is not, it would be better Tor you
TO make the call instead OF summoning the
other to your offices bid you good day, MIR.
Lincoln
Fifteen minutes later Robert Lincoln was
at the office of Fernando Jones'
III have come, Mr.. Jones" he began, ITO
apo,n- -.
aNot another word, Robert As for this
man Hume. he Is safe tenant. He pays
promptly. By the way, how about that rali-
road case of yours'
And the old gentleman led the conversation
as far ms possible from the object OF the young
lawyer,s visit. But this lesson was one wnlcn
Rnf,ert Lincoln never forgot. he was young
then. and it came just in time. Never, SINCE
tbat day. has be been known to presume upon
his fathers fame, or make effort to pront OF
era;n personal Importance or dignity on that
sceo,,nt When called into the cabinet by
President Garfield he accepted, sensibly and
bonorably; but In official as in private me nc
ias .ierolted himself like a man who desires
no honor or success. save that which comes to
him OF his own right and on his own merits.
Moreover. he knows that what talk
there has been or may now be connecsing
hi, name with the presidency may pe az
tributed to the fact that he Is Apraham Lln-
colu,s son, and against this he most earnestly
ana sincerely protests He has no political
a,,,,;tion. and Is unable to feel grateful 70
tI,oaa mistaken friends who persist III tlae
,,,entiou of his name as among the presiden s
tial possibilities